Process and apparatus for making gas.



H. BRG.

PRGCESS ANB' PPA? TUS FO?. M13

1 1 20,2? Sal Fatend Dec. 8, 1914.

HERMAN BURGI, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING GAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

Application led May 13, 1912. Serial No. 697,026.

To allwhom it may con/cem: -Be itj known that I, HERMAN BUnGI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, county'of Hampden, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usevful Improvements in Processes and Apparatus for Making Gas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method and ap-v paratus for making illuminating gas and relates more particularly to the continuous carbonization process wherein the coal from which the gas is made is fed continuously into one end of a retort which is externally heated. As the coal passes through the retort the volatile matters contained therein are ldistilled oil' and the temperature of the resulting coke is gradually increased to a White heat. After all of the gases have been driven off the coke is quenched and removed from the retort by suitable extractin e ns.

The objects of my invention are to mix with the gas formed in the retort enriching gases derived om suitable oils or tars, and to gasify these' oils or tars by introducing them into the retort at a point where the coke has a temperature just right for gasifying and properly fixing all hydrocarbons and volatile matters. The enriching gases are ythereby mingled directly with the gases distilled from the coal and since the course of these gases in the retort is from the hotter to the cooler end thereof all liability of having the hydrocarbons burned by coming in contact with the hotter portions of the retort is avoided.

In carrying out my invention the 'oils or ltars are introduced at a point where the temperature of the coke is from 1200` to 1600 Farenheit, and as the richer gases are driven ofll from the coal below 1200"- F. and the leaner gases are the last to be driven off, the enriching gases will be mingled with the current of lean gases and thus be per- 'manently fixed owing to the strong afiinity of the lean gases for the rich gases.

An apparatus'for carrying out my process is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through a double retort generator. Fig. 2 is a 1on-v gitudinal section of a detail of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the generator consists of two retorts 10 and l1 which are arranged upright in a .suitable masonry 12 andsurrounded by heatlng lues 13 which are supplied with gas from the vertical flue 14. The Hue 14 may be supplied with gas by any suitable form of` furnace or producer 15. Coal is fed into the upper ends of the retorts by suitable feeding devices 16 and the coke may be removed from the lower ends of the retorts by suitable discharging devices 17 and the gases generated in the retorts may be withdrawn from the upper ends of the retorts by means of suitable pipes 18.

The apparatus so far described is in com mon use and the specific details thereof form no part of the present invention.

In carrying out my invention I may provide an oil or tar tank 19 having an outlet pipe 20 controlled by a suitable vvalve 2l. The pipe 20 may discharge into a funnel 22 supported in any suitable manner and connected with a pipe 23 which extends downwardly into the interior of the retort. In order to prevent the pipe 23 from burning out it may be jacketed in any preferred manner. In the drawings I have shown the pipe 23 as being iacketed by a pipe 24. The pipes 23 and 24 may be secured together at the top in any suitable manner and the top of the retort provided with a stuffing-box 25 for the pipe 24, this stuffing-box preventing leakage of gas around the pipe and also serving as a convenient means for holding the pipes in position and at the same time permitting them to be raised or lowered in order to locate the lower end of the pipe 23 in the proper zone of the retort. It will of Vcourse be understood that I may use any suitable number of retorts and may provide leach of the retorts with the apparatus for Vfeeding the enriching oils, if necessary. The lower end of the pipe 23 extends a short distance below the end of pipe 24 and discharges into the interior of the retort at a point where the coke has a temperature of from 12000 F. to 16000 F. The pipe 23 may be of relatively small diameter so that it will be kept cool by the boiling of the oils or tars passing therethrough. The pipe 24 also tends to protect the pipe 23 from the heat of the coal. By having the pipe 20 discharge into the funnel 22 the operator is able to observe the quantity of oil being fed through the -pipe 23 and to suitably regulate this quantity by means of the "alve 2l.

In operating the apparatus, coal is continuously fed into the top of the retorts and passes slowly downward therethrough and in its downward passage is gradually heated by the hot gases in the Hues 13 which surround the retorts. The effect of the heat is to distil off the volatile matters contained in the coal and gradually heat the resulting coke to a white heat. The gas produced in the retort is drawn off at the top thereof through a pipe 18 and sincerthe leaner gases which are given off by t-he coal in the hotter portions of the retort, rise, they heat the de scending coal and are at same time cooled. Owing to the fact that the coal is continuously fed into the top of the retort and gradually descends to the lower end thereof it.

will be seen that the different Zones of the retort will be maintained at substantially uniform temperatures. It is therefore possible to locate the lower end of the pipe 23 in a zone having a temperature suitable for crackin up the enriching oils and permanently Xing the gases resulting therefrom. Since the flow of the gases in the retort is upward it is obvious that the enriching gases will not be subjected to a heat exceeding that at the point at which the oils are introduced and therefore these gases are not liable to be lost by being converted into lamp black. By mingling the enriching gases with the lean coal gases which have a great ailinity for them they will be so thoroughly fixed that they will not drop out as light oils or tars when cooled.

I am aware that enriching oils have been heretofore introduced into gas generators` and particularly those producing water gas,

but it should be observed that in that class of generators the temperature at any given point constantly varies sojthat while there are undoubtedly periods when the oil is used with a maximum economy, yet at some periodsthe temperature at the point where the oil is introduced is too low to properly fix the gases derived from the oils so that they afterward drop out as light oils or tar, and at other periods the temperature is too high so that the gases are burned and lamp black produced. I am also aware that it is common to introduce the enriching oils into special retorts which convert the oils into gases, but in practice the economy of this method is very small because it is diflicult to regulate the amount of oil in such a way as to either not make too much lamp black or tar.

,In the continuous process, however, the different zones of the retort are maintained at substantially uniform temperatures so that it is possible to introduce the oils'at the proper point to thoroughly fix the gases derived therefrom, and owing to the practiis claimed is 1. The process of making gas which consists in continuously passing coal through a heated retort wherein the volatile matters are gradually distilled ofi' and coke produced and removed, supplying suitable enriching hydrocarbons to the retort in the zone where the temperature is suitable for cracking up and permanently fixing the hydrocarbons, and mingling the resulting enriching gases with the leaner gases distilled from the coal.

2. The process of making gas which consists in passing coal downwardly .through a heated vertical retort wherein the volatile matters are gradually distilled o" and coke produced and heated to incandescence, passing the gases distilled from the coal upwardly through the retort, supplying suitable enriching hydrocarbons to the retort in the zone where the temperature is suitable for cracking up and permanently fixing the hydrocarbons, and mingling the gases derived from the hydrocarbons directly with the gases distilled from the coal in the hotter portion of the retort.

3. The process of making gas which consists in continuously passing coal through a heated retort wherein the volatile matters are gradually distilled off and coke produced and removed, passing suitable enriching hydrocarbons through the mass of coal in the retort in the direction of movement of the coal to the zone where the temperature is suitable for cracking up and permanently fixing the hydrocarbons and xmingling the resulting enriching gases with the leaner gases distilled from the coal.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a vertical retort, means for heating the retort, means at the top of the retort for feeding coal thereto and at the bottom of the retort for withdrawing coke therefrom, whereby the coal is continuously moved downwardly through the retort, means whereby gas is withdrawn from the retort, and a pipe extending downwardly on the interior of the retort from the top thereof and opening into the body of fuel in the retort.

5. In ap apparatus of the class described, the combination of a vertical retort, means for heating the retort, means at the top of the retort for feeding coal thereto and at the bottom of the retort for withdrawing coke therefrom, whereby the coal is continuously moved downwardly throu h the retort, means whereby gas is with rawn from the retort, an adjustable pi e extendin downwardly on the interior o the retort rom the top thereof, and a jacket for said pipe.

In testimon whereof I aix my signature in presence o two witnesses.

HERMAN BURGI.

Witnesses:

VALENTINE L. EURG, FLOYD H. Dow. 

